Inside �our own� sufficiency, we are in �I will do�: I will pull down my barns, and then I will build greater; and then I will bestow all my fruits and my goods into �I will� take it easy in eat, drink and be happy (Lk 12:18-19 with 1Cor 10:6-8). Jesus did not come to do His own will; but the will of He who sent Him (Jn 6:38). Many [attempt to] go in a way, [through church] which leads to destruction (7:14-13). In the knowledge of �our own� bitterness, we can come to understand that God�s way is in His favor, so that we would not be in all the foolishness of deceit (Pr 14:10-8).
For after understanding, we can go on to have knowledge (Pr 14:6). There is a faithful witness; and then there is a false witness, which is in foolish pride within all of its perverse ways (14:5, 3-2). Only that faithful witness builds in the fear of the Lord (14:5, 1); Which fear causes us to hate the evil in all of its pride that believes our own wisdom and way is good (8:13-14). The false witness takes us down in its perverse ways (14:5, 3-2). Again the way that seems right-on [which is �our own� way] leads to death (16:25 with 14:12); Wherein we are working for �our own self� (16:26).
Those who are ungodly are into digging up evil and causing strife (Pr 16:27-28). These things are in the way that is not good (16:29). In perversity, evil comes to pass (16:30). THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS is only better when we are in spirit (16:31-32). For then everything is of the Lord (16:33). Wherein all the words of the Lord are pleasant (16:24). Are you learning to teach how His words become pleasant? (16:23-24). Remember that the instruction of fools, who are not of the understanding for LIFE, is foolish (16:22). Be of sweetness and you too shall find what is good (16:21-20).
Those who are humble have meek spirits; and can spoil the proud (16:19). A haughty spirit has fallen into pride unto destruction (16:18). THE HIGHWAY OF GOD�S WAY HAS US DEPART FROM EVIL (16:17). Has the Lord Jesus Christ delivered you from this evil [way] into the will of God, OR have you been removed from this calling of you into this grace of Christ by �another� gospel?? (Gal 1:3-4, 6). Cursed preachers are nothing but trouble, because of their perverting of the gospel of Christ (1:8-7). I am NOT into pleasing men is why I am a servant of Christ (1:10). Because I am into pleasing Christ I say by His grace God is pleased (1:15).
Why are we being removed from this grace? Because the calling of this grace is the offense of the cross/gospel (5:4, 12-11).
FIRST: Paul tells us that there is an offense of the cross/gospel, which those who trouble us, seek to have ceased/come to an end (Gal 5:11-12). The people herein causing trouble, are those same believers of the gospel who Paul talked about in Gal 1:7-8: These believers have corrupted the gospel by removing believers from the calling of them into the [offensive] grace of Christ (Gal 1:6). Paul is telling us in Gal 5:11 and 4: that our justification by grace (cf Rom 3:24); and expressly not by the law, is therefore the offense of the cross/gospel. Any attempt to justify our life by some law, and we are fallen from this grace (Gal 5:4 with 1:6).
Many believers are unaware of how offensive GRACE is; and so Paul adds another offense of grace: He was not of men, nor by men; but by Jesus Christ and God the Father (Gal 1:1). This is not as offensive as he would like it to be, because this offense MUST come upon those who hear the gospel, lest it, this grace in its calling is removed. Paul adds, it pleases God [clearly the following does not please men], to separate/select us into this calling by His grace BEFORE we are born from our mother�s womb (Gal 1:15).
SECONDLY: Paul tells us that the love, which he is talking about is the liberty that we, by grace, have thus been called unto (Gal 5:13 with 1:15); And this love expressly toward neighbor (5:14). Clearly love between married couples is NOT considered an offense, is expressly why Paul says that love is not to be used/cannot be used for the occasion, which is all about serving the flesh (5:13). Many married couples are completely unaware how offensive to God it is for them to say that God has given them a license from the state to be joined together to please themselves in the flesh. This is expressly why they got married in the first place. However, this is not why God crated men and women: For instead we were created to please God. Now if in marriage, we are removed from this calling of us into the grace of Christ, which is love others, and we rather use our love together, in marriage, to prohibit this extra-marital loving activity, we are fallen from this calling of us to live by faith in love.
THIRDLY: Paul is not satisfied that he has given the radical offense of grace, in this testimony, loving others outside of marriage. Wherein believers might be inclined to misstate this into saying that Paul means for us to be hi, and goodbye lovers of others. Notwithstanding that this word for love is all about REAL AFFECTION. And therefore Paul brings another MAJOR OFFENSE OF GRACE into the equation:
Christ, Himself needs to make us free, so that we could stand fast in this liberty unto NOT getting entangled/knotted together in any bondage AGAINST it (Gal 5:1); And then Paul adds to this, THIS LIBERTY is the leading of the Holy Spirit, which the flesh is AGAINST (5:1, 18-17). Wherein those of the flesh AGAINST this walk of the Spirit ARE warned NOT to be under the law or they too shall be into fulfilling [to love by] the lusts of the flesh (5:16, 18). Remember justification by the law, and we have fallen from grace (5:4).
FOURTHLY: Paul is not satisfied that he has given the radical offense of grace, in all of this testimony of us needing to be made free to love others AFFECTIONATELY, that he feels compelled to add the following: The fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal 5:22):
Paul gives us a perfect example of this LOVE, which is of the Spirit in the life of a man called Abraham, who had two sons, only one of which was by his wife; the other was by a concubine (Gal 4:22). The Scriptures expressly having TWO COVENANTS, only one of which engenders bondage (4:24). Only one of which engenders the liberty to love, which is Christian freedom (5:1).
Paul is not going to hold back the offense of grace telling us that this was just about Abraham alone; but it is for those who believe on Jesus our Lord (Rom 4:23-24); Who was delivered unto death for all of our offenses [AGAINST to love], so that we could be justified by grace (4:25, 3:24). NOTE this is the same testimony, because this is the allegory of the Scriptures (Gal 4:24, 30). Now both of these testimonies Gal 5:4 and Rom 3:24 with 4:25 are about justification BY GRACE [to love], which as you now understand is down-right OFFENSIVE to those who wish to have a license from the state to be in the lust of the flesh, as their expression of love.
FIFTHLY: Paul making sure that everyone is offended, states the following: Rejoice for women who have children without a husband, because their children are the children of promise (Gal 4:27-28). Those who cannot rejoice shall be of those who cast out these women, who are born of the Spirit, because they are born after the flesh: And this is why they and those like them persecute those of this rejoicing promise of God in the liberty of Christ (4:28-30, 5:1). If you have the love of this world, then you shall be provoked into jealousy, because you are not in this election/selection of grace: Wherein it is added that you therein have the evidence that you have fallen from grace (Rom 11:11 and 5).
